Spanish investigators and the World Anti-Doping Agency believe there could be evidence in the bags which could implicate more than the 50 cyclists believed to have been past customers of Fuentes’ services.

According to his testimony, Fuentes’ full client list included athletes from sports other than cycling. However, their names have not been revealed and it will be up to Santamaria to decide what can be done with the evidence in the bags now that the trial has ended.

The Spanish state prosecutor has said that although the bags themselves form part of a crime scene and should not be tampered with, there could be ways of making some of their content available for further analysis.

Spanish Anti-Doping Agency director general Ana Munoz said she is likely to file a request to have the bags examined with a view to taking legal action against the cheating athletes and those who aided them.

After the trial ended, the agency said it would decide what course of action to take once Santamaria gives her verdict.

During the trial’s 23 sittings over two months, Fuentes steadfastly maintained that the only services he provided were to help prevent athletes from endangering their health through overexertion.

However, the prosecution argued that some of his transfusion techniques endangered the health of his clients.